Ultrastructural immunoenzymatic study of alpha-fetoprotein-producing cells in the human fetal liver.

Cells producing alpha-fetoprotein in human fetal liver have been studied with specific horseradish peroxidase labeled immunoglobulins. Under light microscopy, the alpha-fetoprotein is strictly localized in the cytoplasm of certain hepatocytes, distributed randomly in the hepatic lobule. Ultrastructural examination of thesame cells shows that the alpha-fetoprotein is present within the cytoplasm. Ultrastructural differences are described in hepatocytes according to whether or not the cell is producing alpha-fetoprotein at the time of sampling. These observations lead to the hypothesis that alpha-fetoprotein may correspond to a particular functional state of the hepatocyte in human fetal liver.

[Study of the zinc levels in serum and erythrocytes in burn patients (author's transl)]. / Etude des taux sériques et érythrocytaires du zinc chez le brûlé

Following a statistical study of four groups of burned people, determined in function of the UBS coefficient, a curve of blood zinc variations has been drawn:Immediately after burning, blood zinc is low. It rises to normal and then increases above normal. A group of patients (very serious or lethal burns) definitely differs from the others in respect of an important and persistent fall of blood zinc. These blood zinc values suggest a possible need for a zinc supply to this group of patients.